-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- A kidnapping suspect provided information that led to the discovery of the bodies of a missing Ohio woman , her 10-year-old son and a family friend , authorities said Thursday .

The remains of Tina Herrmann , 32 , her 10-year-old son , Kody Maynard , and her 41-year-old friend Stephanie Sprang were found in trash bags placed in the hollow of a tree , Knox County Sheriff David Barber said . Hearses left a wilderness area northwest of the town of Fredericktown in Knox County .

Herrmann 's daughter , Sarah Maynard , 13 , was found alive Sunday morning in Mount Vernon , about 50 miles northeast of Columbus .

Matthew Hoffman , 30 , who lives in the home where Sarah Maynard was found , provided the information that led to the discovery of the three bodies , Barber said . Hoffman currently faces a kidnapping charge in the abduction of Sarah Maynard , Barber said .

Hoffman has experience as a tree trimmer , the sheriff said .

`` I have never experienced anything this big , this serious and this tragic , '' said Barber , who announced the news at a somber press conference .

When asked if officials took the death penalty off the table in order to receive information on the location of the bodies , Knox County prosecutor John C. Thatcher replied that he could not say whether Hoffman had confessed to the killings .

The county coroner will conduct autopsies and provide information to prosecutors , officials said .

Thatcher said he is not sure yet what charges the evidence will support , but he expects to take the case to the grand jury within four to six weeks .

A judge on Tuesday set a $ 1 million bond for Hoffman , who is accused of keeping Sarah bound and gagged in his basement , authorities said . The suspect has a November 23 preliminary hearing on the kidnapping charge , authorities said .

A message left Thursday night with public defender Bruce Malek was not immediately returned .

Barber said earlier this week that authorities were fortunate to find Sarah , but he said blood evidence found in Herrmann 's home coupled with the amount of time the three have been missing had made the situation more serious .

The girl was at the Herrmann residence , but Barber did not indicate whether she saw the slayings .

The bodies were found about 20 miles from the Herrmann home .

Sarah Maynard was found in an early morning raid involving a SWAT team and was released from the hospital Monday , after being evaluated and treated for injuries that were not thought to be life-threatening , the sheriff said .

`` Sarah is with family and is doing well . '' said Barber . `` She is a very brave little girl , '' he said .

The disappearance of the three residents November 10 prompted a weeklong search throughout the rural region . But , in the end , the crucial information came down to Hoffman , Barber said .

`` His information led to the location of the bodies , '' the sheriff said .

`` We are a small community here . We became close to the victims ' families , '' Barber said Thursday . `` We have to take care of the survivors . ''

Police said Tuesday they did not believe Hoffman was working with an accomplice . When asked whether the incident was a home invasion , Barber said it was not , but added that `` either they knew Hoffman or Hoffman made himself known to them . ''

Herrmann failed to report to work at a Dairy Queen in Mount Vernon , in central Ohio , on November 10 , Barber told CNN affiliate WBNS . A deputy twice went to her home in Howard , about nine miles east of Mount Vernon , and saw her pickup there . No one answered the door , though lights were on in the home .

A Dairy Queen manager went into the home on November 11 and found blood inside , Barber told the station .

Asked about Hoffman 's criminal record , Barber said he served prison time for an arson conviction in another state .

Dawna Davis , who lives next to Hoffman , said she did not trust him .

`` He was just different . He was odd . He just climbed trees and watched us , '' she said about Hoffman .

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NEW : Prosecutor says he ca n't comment on whether suspect confessed

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Bodies of two women and a boy , 10 , were found a week after they disappeared

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Matthew Hoffman , 30 , held in kidnapping of girl , gave information , sheriff says

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13-year-old daughter of one of the victims was found safe in a police raid